A shout-out to candidate Calderon

Re: “Denver election: Mayoral runoff set for Johnston and Brough,” April 7 news story

Thank you, Lisa Calderon, for providing the only excitement and suspense in the mayor’s race! If you had pulled off an upset of the ex-CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, who was supported by big money and a TV advertising blitz, it would have been talked about on the moon.

Here’s to underdogs everywhere. Thanks for giving us hope once again.

Beverly Bennett, Aurora

Legislators need to be able to get work done

Re: “Inquiry sought on student’s removal,” April 7 news story

Much as I might agree with the message of the anti-gun students in the Colorado Capitol gallery, they nor anyone else should not be allowed to disrupt the legislative session. Would my fellow Democrats be so understanding if passionate, screaming, pro-gun demonstrators did the same?

The protesters were not arrested, not injured, and not barred from the Capitol grounds. State patrol was there to provide necessary and measured security, and that was exactly what they did. Unless the legislators plan to work in a perpetual cacophony, let security do its job unless unnecessary violence is happening.

Roger Brisnehan, Westminster

I am speechless at the coverage of the high school student or students’ actions at the Capitol. Somewhere along the line they have learned that shouting like they are at a pep rally will get their point across. They are wrong.

A part of getting your views heard is to be respectful when speaking and do so when the time is appropriate, not yelling from the balcony during a budget meeting.

These students want to feel safe at school, and that includes from each other, as the last shooting proved. Some of the responsibility falls on them to report what they see on social media or just the general high school gossip pipeline.

I support how the state patrol officers handled the situation, and I think the legislators who feel these students were exercising their rights to be obnoxious should realize these are the adults of tomorrow who will be bringing a set of bullhorns to disturb the work they are trying to accomplish.

Joanie Jones, Denver

Peaceful protest shouldn’t lead to expelling legislators

Re: “Tennessee: House GOP expels two Dems over guns protest,” April 7 news story

The proceedings in Tennessee to expel three members of the State House have been disgusting and should put fear into every American. To expel two members and almost a third (saved by her light skin tone) for participating in a peaceful protest is an abomination. This is how democracy dies.

These were elected officials (two young black men) who were forced out for breaking “rules of decorum” for standing up with their constituents, while another (white woman) was almost voted out for the same reason.

Whether you are a Republican, Democrat or in-between, you should be outraged. This is not the American Democracy our founding fathers envisioned as the behavior of the Tennessee State House seems more like a dictatorship punishing its detractors.

Pay attention, people, because this is yet another example of elected officials chipping away at the democracy we (should) hold dearly as it truly is what makes America great.

Dan Murphy, Littleton

Questioning the First Lady’s intent

Re: “The white privilege of Jill Biden’s White House invite,” April 6 commentary

Calling out First Lady Jill Biden’s invitation as racially motivated is irresponsible. White privilege exists. Racism exists. Prejudice exists. Athletes who reach national prominence have a powerful platform from which to address this. They realize that.

Who is Jill Biden? Does she have a past you can look at to determine whether or not her comments were consistent with your interpretation? Or is she simply an uneducated sports fan who made the mistake of challenging a random tradition with her “everybody who makes it to the national championship game is a winner” take?

Samuel A Ramirez, Ketchikan, Alaska

Falsifying documents is a crime worth prosecuting

Defenders of Donald Trump seem to believe that there is nothing seriously wrong with falsifying 34 financial documents. If that view prevails, then none of us will be safe in buying a house or a car.

Ray Harlan, Aurora